The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-11

pense OF sodium that made the process expen-
sve. The New York chemist has discovered a
process of producing sodium at a merely nomi-
nal cost and aluminium proportionately cheap
The latter is beautiful metal, and under cheap
production will find many uses, suppanting to
some extent tin, nickel and even iron. When
first discovered. some fifty sixty years ago. 1t
was called aluminium, but in accordance with
modern rule of scienti fic nomenclature tbs ter
mination has been changed, and it Is now called
aluminium. It is particularly adapted for
kitchen utensils, owing to its freedom from rust
and its lightness. In these it will perhaps su-
persede tin. Its wire has double the conductivity
of iron, and having one-third the weight of iron,
may be much thinner. 1t may be used for plat
ing nickel is used. Future uses will still be
in the jewelry trade. but in greatest degree as
alloy for common metals. It fits copper with
tensile strength for the heaviest guns and ma
chinery; it makes silver a hard metal and to
iron, steel, nickel and tin it communicates its
qualities of luster, lightness. resistance and
incapability of rustinc.
THE natural antagonism which is supposed to
exist between publishers and authors-thouch
literary history shows many instances of the
! most friendly relationships furnished theme
for many anecdotes. Mrs Louise Chandler
Moulton tells new one of an English writer
name not given. who having lost faith in the
Judgment and sincerity of editors and publish
ers. attempted to palm off Samson Agonistes"
as his own in order to see how they would treat
immortal work by Milton. 1t was rejected
by ALL and for various reasons. One publisher
refused it because the subject was "tco risky"
another fiatterer this, evidently-said it was
equal to the best works of the minor poets"
but not salable: third described it as Showing
considerable promise" and fourth objected to
the influence of Rider Haegard visible in it, and
suggested that prose would be superior to verse
as the medium of such sensationalsm. Several
expressed willingness to print it if the author
would pay the expenses OF the book. The story
is rather severe on English editors and critics.
No doubt many spring poet struggling labori-
ously at tho base of Parnassus has felt himself
quite much entitled to fame some of those
near :he top, and has thought that if one of his
poems were published over So-and-so's name it
would be pronounced the best thing he ever
wrote. Editors and publishers who stand be-
tween ambitious authors and the reading public
have a very uneracious duty to perform, and it
is not surprising if they sometimes make mis-
takes. In the main, however, they are better
judges of what the public wants than authors
are. Perhaps the editors who rejected Samson
fashion changes in literature in everything
else Is it quite certain that Paradise Lost
would be called great poem if it were to appear
for the first time now7
ADVERTISING is art, and one that calls for
high order of talent for the development OF
its finer features. Literary. artistic and mechan-
ical ability are all combined in the work of pro-
ducing attractive advertising columns in news
papers and periodicals. Many prosperous
business establishments have in their employ
men whose sole business it is to write the adver-
tisements. Artists of reputation draw the de-
signs which embellish the business pages of
papers and magazines The most skillful print
ers are assigned to the duty Of setting up the
"ads." That the result is worth while is shown
by the growing attractiveness of this de-
partment of-shali it be called literature
or art2 People read advertisements not
merely for Information, but for pleas
ure. In the magazines they are even
known to turn to them before plunging into Mr.
Howells's serials, and it is no uncommon thing
for newspaper readers to look for the latest bar
gains before absorbing the news from abroad
concerning Mr.. Sullivan and other distinguished
persons. Does it pay7 Well, ask the merchants
Read the advertisements in to-day's Journal.
and tomorrow note the direction in which shop
pers turn. They will all be going towards those
places of business whose merits set forth
| most conspcuously to-day The public wastes
no time in hunting up those shops whose merits
are not boldly set forth by the proprietors. The
conclusion has been reached that the man who
does not advertise is not enterprising. and has
little to offer, and people act accordingly.
Everybody of any consequence, however, adver
| tises in the Journal to-day. IL you not in
terested in what they have to say for blu siness
| reasons read the columns through for enter
| tainment. 1t will pay.
DISPATCH from an interior town in New
| York relates the elopement of local BELLE aged
| nineteen years. and worth $4,000 in her own
right, with railroad brakeman of whom it says,
| the young woman's mother twas scandalzed at
| her daughters acquaintance with him and con-
siders him far beneath the young lady in social
| position" Why? II because he is brakeman
and she a small heiress the statement is non
| sequitur Must man take inferior social
| position because he does manual labor or has
| soiled hands? The brakeman may be railroad
| president some day. Perhaps the mother would
| have preferred to have her daughter marry a
| fashionable dude. ornamented with colored neck
| ties and finger rings. There is a vast deal of
| miechievous nonsense afloat in the country con-
corning what's called social position"
| THE great Bostonian, John L. Sullivan,
smiled graciously the Prince of Wales and
the latter pronounced Mr.. Sullivan "a marvel
| of a man." Sullivan says the Prince is gen
tleman. Though of course he does not know as
| much about fighting as he might" The Prince
told him he had visited Boston when a
| young man, to which Mr.. Sullivan replied:
| Come over again when you've got time and ask
| for me; FL see that you are treated right" The
| acquaintance seems to have opened very auspi-
] ciousy
IT is surprising what amount of tact some
| men have and what a graceful way of doing
| things. The Omaha delegation that went to
| Washington to get the Republican national con-
/ vention, called on the President and suggested
/ that he should give them lift in behalf of their
! city because Mrs. Cleveland is property er